Compare towns
Gorham vs Exeter vs Saco vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Gorham | Exeter | Saco | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,300 |
16,151 |
20,819Highest |
9,706Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,825 55% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #24 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Gorham Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Saco Public Schools | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Gorham High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.